Hi Mark. I know we've gone over this many times, but we have so many things in common, I forget what we don't understand in the same way. But here is one: "I live in sinful flesh, but Jesus keeps me clean." Romans 8:9 says we are NOT in the flesh while walking in the Spirit, so these are not sins of the flesh of Galatians 5:19-21. Those are sins unto death and prevent us from inheriting the Kingdom of God. Knowing the difference is so important, I will go over this with you for as long as it takes. You are important to me. Get the lump doctrine of sin is sin out of your head. No they are not to God. 1 John 5:16-17; Numbers 15:22-36, Leviticus 5:15.
Yes, 1 John 1:7 does imply that even though we walk in the light/Spirit we are not perfect. But you have to discern what type of sins are being cleansed while walking in the Spirit. It is NOT 1 John 3:4 sins of lawlessness. Those are willful sins unto death and are of Satan. So the type of sin in 1 John 1:7 are unknown sins called trespasses (Leviticus 5:15) that as we reconcile with each other over trespasses we forgive each other (Matthew 6:14-15) "we have fellowship with one another" and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from those sins (NOT all types of sin; just what we commit after Jesus has taken away our carnal flesh's sins and the desire to commit them). The key is the reconciliation with one another, while sins of lawlessness are against God's laws and are major sins committed in rebellion against God.. Also trespasses are not sins unto death. These are cleansed by our Advocate. Jesus is not our Advocate for sins willfully committed against God that would require repentance. 1 John 2:1 says nothing about repentance.
I think perhaps the key distintion between our views is that I see all sins as sin, while you see sins unto death and sins not unto death. This leads you to say that there are sins we would never as Christians commit, while other sins might be committed, though we will quickly repent and receive forgiveness.
I would say that all sins are forgiven past present and future, and that we have become someone new who is not the sinner. I would say that as we walk in the Spirit we don't sin at all, of any description, and that if we do out of ignorance, Jesus is cleansing us from sin.
I would say that should we begin to walk according to the flesh, not in the flesh, but according to the flesh, this is sin, as all that is not of faith is sin. I don't divide which sins may or may not be committed. Take adultery, for example, this is a sin unto death under the law, and yet the passing thought of intimacy with another is not unto death under the Law, but is sin just the same. And then it's the same thing in me that says, You deserve that last piece of pie, and this is the exact same thing that says, you should have
her! It's all the flesh, whether it wants to murder, or is afraid of tomorrow. All the flesh.
In the Spirit, all is transcended, no sin exists.
In a functional sense, I can't imagine killing someone, or adultery, or these things.
But remember . . . working on the Sabbath was a sin unto death, and how many of us violate that commandment in failing to trust Jesus for our salvation, and in thinking we have works to do lest we not be saved? So where do we draw the line? I draw it between walking in the Spirit, in which is no sin, and walking according to the flesh, which remains unreformed.
We both believe in our freedom from sin in Christ, and I rejoice with you!
Much love!
